Lock for preventing theft of automobiles



Jan. 3, 1928.

R. ALFlSl LOCK FORiPREVENTING THEFT OF AUTOMOBILES Filed March 2 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR A34FFA ELE ALF/5v WITNESSES BY M f ATTORNEYS Jan. 3, 1928. 1,655,350

R. ALFISI LOOK FOR PREVENTING THEFT 0F AUTOMOBILES Filed March 27, 1925 2 Sheets-Shet 2 WITNESSES INVENTOR t. R4FF4ELE ALF/.s/

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

- UNITED ST A T ES PATENT OFFICE.

RAFFAELE anrrsnoannooknyu, New Yonir.

LOCK FOR PREVENTING THEFT AUTOMOBILES;

I AppYication filedMarch 27, 1925. semi No. 18,890. I

This invention relates to locks for automobiles and particularly to an improved construction for preventing the theft of automobiles and has toranfobject to provide an improved construction wherein the steering apparatus ot the automobile will be locked against movement and the same time asignal set which will be operated whentlie in locked position.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing the wiring tori'ning certain features of theinvention, the same illustrating how the lock is connected. to av source of current to the ignition of the engine and an alarm device. T

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the; lock on line 3-3 of Figure 1,'the same being on an enlarged scale.

ures 1 and 5 on line at of each figure. Figure 5 is a sectional view through 'ure {l on line 55. a

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, 1 indicates an automobile or any desired kind which is. provided with the usual steering post/13 with a. steering rod any desired manner with the steering wheel at. well known and, therefore, further detail description will. not be necessary. A pinion 5 is rigidly secured to the steering rod 3 and positioned to mesh with the gear 6 whenever the parts are in their locked posi tion as shown in'Figure 1. The geartl is rigidly secured to a shalt-7 (Figure 5.) which,

shaft slidingly fits into the square guide 8 rigidly secured to the casing -9,"which asing is connected in any suitable manner-to. the instrument board or floor ofthe automobile 1. The parts must be mounted in such a manner that the shaft 7 is parallel tothe rod 3 in. order that the gear 6 may be moved into f and out of mesh with the gear wheel 5 By reason of th'elact that the cas ng 9 1s rig- .u-sed Without i-ai-ztending thcrethrough and cm'inected in' The structure just described is. old, and ior instance, by adhesiveor screws.

idly secured to theautomobile and that the shaft 'Zand guide 8 are square, the rod 3 is locked against rotation when the two gear wheels 5 and 6 are in mesh. V

When it iadesired to use the automobile, the hand. wheel 10 is pressed downwardly and such movement will cause the shaft 7 to. be moved downwardly as well as gear wheel 6, said movement continuing until gear wheel (3 is out of mesh with gear wheel 5. The au-' theparts are set in the correct position, the. '(lOWllViltdIROVQUiQHt ofthe hand wheel 10 and associated parts will merely cause the. gear wheel (5 to move away from the gear wheel 5; However, if the parts are not correctly set and this movement takes place, an alarm will be sounded as hereinafter fully described, whichalarm will continue to opcrate until the lock has been taken to pieces or the sounding device stopped throughsome other means,

As indicated in Figure 5, the casing 9 divided into compartments 11 and 12, said compaflzinent-s being separated by a plate 1.3 having a ring 14 mounted thereon, which ring overlaps the annular insulating wall 15. On the ring 14 are arranged a number v y of legends 16 which are shown as numerals Figure l is a sectional view through F in the' drawing though other designations may be used. Also, in the drawing, sixteen legends have been' shown as there are sixteen corresponding parts but-it. willbe evi-- dent that a greateror less number could be departing from the spirit o't thof'invention. are a number o't blochs 17 of insulating ma terial, as for instance,liber,which are socured'in anydesired niannerto wall.-15, as

.therebetween whenever the hand wheel 10 has been lowered. Carried by each block is a. pivotally mounted pawl or catch 19 normallysupported in an almost horizontal position by a spring '20. Preferably, both thespring and thecatchl9 areearried by a single screw21 though separate mounts might be used. Below the various catches -tomobile may then be steered readily. It

Associated with the wallflf These 7 19 are arranged resilient contacts 22 which 7.

are connected in any desired manner to the contact 'ring23, aster instance, by having a tongue 24; pressed'out of the metal and soldered'tothe ring. The ring 23 asindicated inFigure 2 is connected by wire 24 to one side of the signal device which has been illustrated as an electric bell. The

contact arm 18 is connected through a suit able conductor 26 to a source of current-27 which in turn is connected through wires 28 and 29 to one side of the bell 25. It will thus be seen that whenever the contact arm 18 is engaging any of the contacts 22, the bell 25 will be operated. The ignition system of the engine is indicated by the struc ture 30 in Figure 2 and it will be noted that the ignition is connected to a source of current through wires 31 and 28 and also through wires 32, arm 18 and wire 26. It will thus be noted that when the contact arm 18 is in engagement with any of the contacts 22, the ignition is cut out and, there-- fore, the engine cannot be started. hen the arm 18 is pressed downwardly so as to engage any of the contacts 22, rod 7 will be moved and gear wheel 6 disengaged but the engine cannot be started by reason of the non-connection of the source of current with the ignition. However, there is provided one contact 22 which is similar to the various contacts 22 but is not connected with the ring'23. The wire 32 is connected to contact 22 and to the ignition so that when- Y the contact ever arm 18 is moved around and then pressed downwardly into engagement with 22, the ignition circuit will be closed but the circuit of the bell 25 will remain open. It will thus be seen that when arm 18 is pressed downwardly to engage contact 22, gear wheel 6 is moved to a dis-' engaged position, the ignition circuit is closed and the circuit of the bell is lett open. As clearly indicated in Figure 5, contact arm 18 is in the chamber 11 which cannot be seen either by an authorized or unauthorized person.

In order that an authorized person may know just where arm 18 is located, indicating' means have been provided in the compartment or chamber 12. Extending upwardly from the plate 13 and preferably integral therewith, are a number of posts 33 whichresult in a number of slots 34, there beingone slot for each of the contacts in the lower chamber and these slots are also in line with the contacts so that it the arm 18 and arm 35 are in vertical alignment, they will both enter slots at the same time one above'theother. Preferably, however, the arms 35 and 18 are never in alignment but always-bear certain relationship to each other. This relationship is capable of change enterthe slot 34 indicated by the legend 2' or adjustment by means described below. If arm 18 is positioned to enter contact 22 (Figure 2) arm 35 may be positioned to inFigure 3. When this relationship of the arms is adopted, the rightful owner will merely manually lock the arms35 and 18 together by the means later disclosed. lVhen to the means tor locking the arms 18 and resaaeo a change is desired the arm 35 can be adjusted until it indicates some other legend in Figure 3. The car is in this manner protected and the owner may leave the same with reasonable assurance of safety. A thief or unauthorized person would not know the correct position of either of the arms and would probably never guess that the correct position was the legend 2 in F igure 3. However. when the rightful owner returned, he would quickly turn arm 35 to a position opposite the legend 2 in Figure 3 and then depress the crank wheel 10. This would cause the arm 18 to firmly engage the resilient contact 22 and at the same time disengage gears 5 and 6. The engine may then be started in the usual manner and the automobile also steered in the usual manner. As

in any selected relationship it will be noted that arm 35 is rigidly secured to sleeve 3 by a set screw though other means might be used while the arm 18 is secured to the rod 37 by solder or other suitable means. It will be noted that the rod 37 is formed with an annular flange or enlargement 38 at the lower end fitting into a socket formed in shaft 7 and held rotatable therein by a ring 39 riveted or otherwise secured in place. By reason or the square guide 8, shaft 7 and ring 9 cannot rotate. A ratchet wheel 10 is rigidly secured in any suitable manner to rod 37 so as to rotate therewith. A spring pressed pawl 41 (Figure 4) is mounted on the ring 39 and thereby prevents the rod 37 from rotating in one direction. A clockwise rotation of the rod 37 is permissible, both the hand wheel 10 and rod 37 being thus rotatable in the operation of the device. A ratchet wheel 12 is rigidly secured by solder or other means to the sleeve 36, said ratchet wheel facing in the opposite direction to ratchet wheel 40. The spring pressed pawl 4-3 (Figure acts to prevent the ratchet wheel %2 and the sleeve 36 from rotating in one direction counterclockwise rotation of the hand wheel 10 independently of the rod 37 being pern'iissible when the hand wheel is unlocked for the purpose of changing the relationship of the arm 35 to the arm 18. A key operated lock 44 of: any desired kind is carried by the wheel 40 in position so that the bolt 4-5 thereof may be projected into an opening 46 in sleeve 36 (this being the normal condition of the bolt) whereby when the bolt has been moved to its locked position the wheel 40 and sleeve 36 will be locked together and, consequently. the sleeve 36 will turn with rod 37 and both of the arms 18 and 35 will move simultaneously and in the nipulate rod 87 when the locket isinoved to an unlocked position preparatory to an independent adjustn'ient of the arm as when cl'iaiiging the relationship ot' the arms; l Jhen this is the case a linger 'wheel. 4:7 is used for rotating sleeve 36, said wheel at being" secured in any desired manner to the sleeve 36. 1

In operation, when the parts are as shown in Figure 1, the lock is in a locked condition. If an unauthorized aerson should push the wheel 10 downwardly, the gear Gwould beclosed. The gear wheel 6 is then moved out of engagement with gear wheel 5. In order to prevent an unauthorized person from closing the circuit ct the bell and then opening the same, the catches-19 are formed with square ends 19 which strike against or engage the respective blocks 17 and, consequently, prevent the return of arm 18 to an upward position until casing 9 has been opened and the parts adjusted manually. The ratchet wheels and 42 are each pr0- vided with the same number of teeth as there are legends 16 and. openings 3% as well as the openings between the various blocks 17 so that the arms 18. and 35 will always stop opposite a slot wherebyit may be forced downwardly if desired. 7

What I claim is:

1. in combination with a steering rod ha ing a locking member, a shaft having a coii'iplementary locking member, means pre-- venting rotation of the shaft but permitting sliding movement, a revoluble and slidable rod in swivel connection with the shaft for sliding said shaft and moving the respective locking member into enga cmcnt and disengagement with the steering rod lock ing member, an alarm signal and a circuit therefor including a plurality of alarm circuit contacts, a contactor carried by the rod being engageable with any of the contacts, means associated with the redturnishing an indication of the position of the contactor in respect to the contacts, and means associated with said contacts holding the contactor when engagement is made with any one of the contacts when said locking members are in the disengaging position.

2. In combination witha steering rod having a locking member, a shaft having a use 3 rod in swivel connection with the shaft for moving the respective locking member into engaging and disengaging positions with the steering rodlocliing member, an alarm signal and a OlI'CHlhtlIG-IOLEOI including a' plurality of alarm circuit contacts, a corn tactor carried by the rod being engageable with any of the contacts upon sliding move inei t of the rod whereupon the complementary locking member is moved to the indicating position, and means associated with all of the contacts excepting a predetermined one thereof for holoing the contactor in engeinent I ith an associated respective alarm circuit contact to maintain closure of the alarm circuit.

3. Means for locking, and unlocking the steering gear of a motor vehicle said means ii'icludiiig a shaft, means preventing rotation but permitting sliding motion of the shaft to effect the locking and. unlocking "functions, a rotatable and slidable rod in i swivel connection with the shaft. an. alarm signal and a circuit theretor, a plurality of contacts, including alarm circuit contactfl a'contactor carried by the rod, means ineluding a handwheel carried by the rodior rotating and sliding'the rod, a visible indicator arm moving with the rod permitting a predetermined selection as to the position of the contactor in respect to the contacts dui ing rotation of the hand wheel, slotted guide means into which the indicator arm is movable upon sliding ofthe rod 'when Sijtl' coutactor engages one of the contacts, and means associated with all of the contacts ex cepting a selected one thereof holding the contactor in engagement to maintain the closure of a circuitassociated with such contacts and holding the indicator arm within said guide means to prevent further rotationot the rod.

4. Means for locking and unlocking the steeringgear of a motor vehicle said means including a shaft, means preventing rotation but permittingslidiiig'motion ot the shattto effect the locking and unlocking functions, a rotatable and slidable rod inswivel. connection with the shaft, an alarm signal and'a circuittheretor, a plurality of contacts including alarm-circuit contacts, a

contactor carried by the rod, means includmg a hand wheel carried by the rod for retating and sliding the rod, a visible indiassociated with allot the contacts excepting a selected one thereof holding the contactor in engagement to maintainthe closure of a circuitassociated with said contacts and holding the indicator arm Within said guide means to prevent further rotation of the rod,

means associated with the indicator arm permitting a change thereof upon the rod and in relationship to the contactor.

in a. device for operating inter-engag; ing; locking members of a motor vehicle steering gear, a slidahle and revoluble l(), an electric circuit, a plurality contacts ineluding contacts in said circuit, a contactor carried by the rod, indicating means for determining the position 01 the coutactor in respect to said contacts, mid means including an indicator arm 2 nd a dial with appropriate legends for each of the contacts, a sleeve by which the indicator arm is mounted upon the rod, and 11 cans for securing the sleeve upon. the rod in el'lf'ective position so that the indi- 'ZELtOl' arm may have a predelermincd rclationship to the contactor.

6. In a device for operating inter-engaging locking members a motor vehicle steering gear, a slidablc and revoluhle rod, o 'c circuit, a plurality of contacts including contacts in sa d :arried by the rod, indicating means for determining; the position of the contactor in respect to sa d contacts said means including an indicator arm and a dial with appropriate legends for each 01 the contacts, a sleeve by v-rhich the indicatorarm is mounted upon the rod, means for iring the sleeve upon the rod in ellective position so that the indicator arm may have a predetermined relationship to the contactor, and means operable upon loosening of said securing means to vary the relative adjustment of the inditator arm and contactor.

7. In a device for operating interenga;rinc; h

icltingz members a motor vehicle F;l'(;81ll), gear, a slidable an l revoluble rod, an electric circuit, a plurality of contacts including contacts in said circuit, a coutactor carried by the rod. indicating: means for determininc the positionot the contactor in respect to said contacts, said means including;- an indicator arm and a dial with appropri ate legends for each oi the contacts, a sleeve by which the indicator arm is mounted upon circuit, a contactor I the rod, means "for securing the sleeve upon the rod in effective posit on so that the indicate arm may have a predetermined relationship to the contactor. means oper; hle upon loosening; o'l said securing means lo vary the relative adjustment of the indicator arm and contactor, a hand \vheel upon the red by which the necessary rotatable and sliding movements are efl'ected, means including a ratchet and pa vvl permitting 1'ota tion of the rod in one direction, and means including a pawl and ratchet associated with the hand Wheel and sleeve pern'iitting only a contrary rotat on of the hand Wheel and sleeve indepeiidently oi? the rod when sa d steering means is loosened, thereby changing the relationship of the indicator arm to the contactor.

S. in a device tor operating in er-engaginn" locking" members of a. motor vehicle steeringgear, a slidahle and revoluble rod, an electric circuit, a plurality of contacts including;- crmtacts '11 said circuit, a contactor cazried hy the rod, indicating means for dean'ning the position of the conlactor in pect to said contacts, said means including i indicator arm and a dial with appropriate egends for each of the contacts, a sleeve by vvnich the indicator arm is mounted upon a rod, means for securingthe sleeve upon the rod in effective position so that the indicatorarm may have a 'n'edetermined relationship to the contaetor, means operable upon loosening of said secu 'iiig nuans to vary the relative -adjustment of the indicator arm and coutactor, a hand Wheel upon the rod by which the necessary rotatable and sliding movements are effected, means including a ratchet and pavvl permitting rotation of the rod in one direction, means including a pawl and ratchet associated with the ha id Wheel amlsleeve permitting only a contrary rota tion of the hand Wheel and sleeve independently oi the rod when said steering means is li'iosened. thereliv chane n the relation ship of the indicator a m to the contactor, and means including a lock 'arried by the hand \vhe l permit-ting release or the hand wheel in respect to the sleeve so that relative adjustments of the hand WllOBl in respect to the sleeve may be made.

' RAFFAELE ALFISI. 

